VIVIANA’S WHOLE BODY IS TREMBLING, and her breaths come in gasps. she’s run all the way to alyssandra’s cabin. now that she’s through the door, she leans over, hands on her thighs, taking in wonderful lung full’s of air. it’s only when she catches her breath that she straightens herself, looking at aly with wide eyes, damp with tears. viviana nods at the elf’s words, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks as she’s no longer able to hold them back. and she knows she’s likely referring to the blood on the human’s cheek, but there’s much more sinister, much more serious wounds covering viviana’s back.
she turns around, dropping her cloak as she does. and the thin dressing gown she has on hides nothing. it is bloody, and ripped in every place where her cruel uncle’s whip kissed her back. viviana lets out a shaky breath, looking over her shoulder at the elf. and, alyssandra, who is unpredictable on the best of days, reaches out ever so gently, peeling the white fabric from her back. viviana flinches, but keeps as still as possible. ❛ how bad is it? ❜ she asks, her voice a quiet whisper. but she already knows. she knows.
ALYSSANDRA’S HEART nearly stops at the sight of viviana, the fragile human’s visage decorated with pain. months before she wouldn’t have passed this opportunity to torture her further, but something tugs at her emotions. she doesn’t like it. the knife in her hand clatters on the counter, abrupt and noisy as she rushes to the tender woman’s side. lips part, head tilting in concern -- fingers hover over the bloody shear fabric as it falls to miss deluca’s feet and a hiss escapes from betwixt lips that tremble with fury. brows furrow and the elf breathes deeply when the question is willfully thrown into open air. she’s not sure she wants to give the answer.
SHE SWALLOWS back her desire to hunt viviana’s uncle into the ground, anger flashing briefly across her face as she ushers the woman to the couch. hands lift to press to the sides of viviana’s head and she shakes her own. so strong. this woman is so so strong. her heart continues to race in her chest and she helps viviana lay down on the couch, “not too bad to heal.” the wounds are raw and open, blood still leaking from them. she’s surprised the girl didn’t faint on her way over here. adrenaline, most likely. lips purse together and she hovers her hand over the skin, “take a deep breath. this is going to feel uncomfortable, love.”
